Cajuns Take Series Finale from Bears, 9-7

Louisiana salvages game three and avoids sweep against Missouri State

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns defeated the Missouri State Bears 9-7 in the final game of their weekend series. Missouri State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Louisiana rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the first and then took a 7-3 advantage in the fourth inning. The Bears mounted a comeback in the fifth and ninth innings, but ultimately fell short as the Cajuns held on for the win.

Why it matters

This game was the rubber match of the three-game series between the two teams. Missouri State was looking to complete the sweep, while Louisiana was hoping to salvage at least one game. The outcome leaves both teams with a 2-1 record on the young season.

The details

Louisiana scored three runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game after Missouri State had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top half of the inning. The Cajuns then took the lead with a run in the second and four more in the fourth, including back-to-back home runs. The Bears mounted a comeback with two runs in the fifth and one in the ninth, but ultimately fell short as Louisiana held on for the 9-7 victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Missouri State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

The players

Curry Sutherland

A Missouri State player who hit a two-run triple in the first inning.

Max Knight

A Missouri State player who drove in a run with a single in the first inning.

Trent Ash

A Missouri State relief pitcher who retired the final 11 batters he faced and allowed just one hit and one earned run while striking out five in four innings of work.

Jackson Beaman

A Missouri State player who hit a 437-foot pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning.

Caden Bogenpohl

A Missouri State player who had an RBI single in the ninth inning.

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What’s next

Missouri State will look to bounce back when they travel to Oral Roberts for a game on Tuesday, February 18th at 3:00 PM.

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitive nature of the matchup between these two teams, with Missouri State nearly completing the sweep before Louisiana rallied to avoid being swept. Both teams will look to build on this game as they continue their early-season schedules.